In war-torn Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine near the frontline, one woman’s decision to remain has become a lifeline for children caught in crisis. Lesia, a local educator, lives amid the constant hum of air raid sirens and the creeping advance of conflict. With her city just 20 kilometers from active fighting, danger looms daily—cluster munitions have already struck the center. Yet she chooses to stay.

Lesia’s resolve stems from love and duty. Her daughter sleeps in the hallway for safety, and while many families flee to camps or safer cities, hers cannot leave. Instead, she turns fear into purpose by leading classes for children through the League of Modern Women, backed by Save the Children.

These lessons are more than education—they’re acts of healing and resistance. Young students engage in drawing, games, and mindfulness exercises to manage stress. Teenagers learn how to pitch community projects: one dreams of a drama club, another of a manga comic library. For kids long isolated by online learning, these face-to-face gatherings bring connection and calm.

But signs of trauma persist. Some children are distant or grieving—one girl quietly said, “I want to see dad,” separated by war. Lesia recalls a boy withdrawn after a year of virtual isolation who slowly opened up. She treasures moments like the impromptu concert, when two boys strummed a ukulele while classmates turned flashlights on in solidarity. For five minutes, joy lit up the shelter-turned-classroom.

Though the risk is ever-present, Lesia remains—anchored by the belief that hope must live here, too. “In Ukraine, moving is like playing the lottery,” she says. “Safety is not guaranteed anywhere.” Her courage offers children not just shelter, but imagination, healing, and a reason to dream beyond the noise of war.